ART4HEALING & STUDIO ART
ART SPEAKS WHERE WORDS CANNOT.
ART4HEALING
Certified in an established program called "Art4Healing", Crescent Moon Center's director will facilitate a theme-based two-hour art workshop using acrylics, watercolors, pastels and collage. It is a fast-paced painting project created around themes and questions within the themes, some allowing only 2 minutes to respond to. At the end of each exercise, participants are encouraged to share about their painting experience and the emotions involved. This is an educational exercise, and no prior art experience is necessary.
STUDIO ART
Center participants will have access to a well-equipped art studio which allows self-expression through art in an unstructured environment, selecting from a range of materials such as paint, clay, etc. An Artist in Residency will provide a peer mentorship to all particpants.
ART4HEALING & STUDIO ART
ART SPEAKS WHERE WORDS CANNOT.
ART4HEALING
Certified in an established program called "Art4Healing", Crescent Moon Center's director will facilitate a theme-based two-hour art workshop using acrylics, watercolors, pastels and collage. It is a fast-paced painting project created around themes and questions within the themes, some allowing only 2 minutes to respond to. At the end of each exercise, participants are encouraged to share about their painting experience and the emotions involved. This is an educational exercise, and no prior art experience is necessary.
STUDIO ART
Center participants will have access to a well-equipped art studio which allows self-expression through art in an unstructured environment, selecting from a range of materials such as paint, clay, etc. An Artist in Residency will provide a peer mentorship to all particpants.
Through proven experiential art and equine-assisted learning workshops, combined with ongoing community engagement and support, Crescent Moon Center's program offers an empowering path toward healing, resilience, and growth.
Take the next step on your journey toward holistic wellness and experience:
-
the power of words (Poetry & Creative Writing)
-
visual expression of thoughts and emotions (Painting & Photography)
-
deep insights from guided interactions with horses
(Equine-Assisted Learning) -
authentic connection with community (Group Activities)
8 days to the eventSat, Jun 28Tabula Rasa Ranch, Sebastopol, CAA safe, inclusive, and healing space for participants to have guided interactions with horses that facilitates mindfulness, explores metaphors, and mirrors your life experiences, personal growth, and self-discovery.
36 days to the eventSat, Jul 26Tabula Rasa Ranch, Sebastopol, CALearn about mindfulness, authenticity, compassion, & communication from both horses and poetry. Equine-Assisted Learning and creative writing are proven tools for self-reflection and managing emotions on your journey toward holistic wellness.
100 days to the eventSun, Sep 28Tabula Rasa Ranch, Sebastopol, CAStep into a powerful, creative experience where horses become a living canvas for deeper awareness, expression, reflection, and connection. Symbolic imagery inspires intention and meaning making. Explore the profound bond between humans and horses through the art of painting.
Our Unique Approach
Our program is inspired by scientific research into the healing benefits of equine-assisted learning and creative expression to support mental health and wellbeing.
No prior experience with horses or art is required.
Crescent Moon Center's innovative, experiential learning program combines equine-assisted learning, mindfulness, and expressive art, including poetic medicine (creative writing), photography, abstract painting, collaborative mural-making, drumming, movement, improv, and somatic clay play.
After each workshop, time is set aside for reflection and group discussion to integrate lessons learned so that new insights can be applied on your journey toward holistic wellness.
Connection
Introspection
Healing
Growth
Purpose
Our trauma-informed facilitators create a safe and inclusive space for deep personal work and connection to each other so that you feel supported on your healing journey. Diversity and belonging are central to our values. All are welcome!
Do you need accommodation for a disability or limited mobility to participate in our workshops?
Please let us know how we can support you. Email us at info@crescentmooncenter.org
Join us on an experiential journey into holistic wellness.
Our Workshops
Which of our workshops are you most interested in?
Click on the image below to learn more.
Equine-Assisted Learning
We provide a safe, inclusive, and healing space for participants to have guided interactions with horses that facilitates mindfulness, explores metaphors, and mirrors your life experiences, personal growth, and self-discovery.
This workshop takes place in a round pen where you partner with horses to help identify and achieve personal goals, problem-solve, and build life skills. Through engagement with horses, you learn to be mindful and present, to better understand boundaries, and to practice compassion and kindness within relationships. Horses exemplify and encourage authenticity and confidence.
All activities with horses are guided by certified, experienced facilitators on the ground in a safe and supportive environment. There is no horseback riding in this specialized therapeutic program. You connect with the horses in a personal, deep and heartfelt way.
Therapeutic Carriage Riding
In addition to providing the horses for our Equine-Assisted Learning workshops, our partner Access Adventure gives us the unique and inclusive opportunity for a horse drawn carriage ride into nature. The horse and carriage driver exemplify teamwork, effective communication, and partnership.
Art 4 Healing
This workshop is an artistic journey into deep thoughts and feelings through shapes and colors.
Use colors to respond to questions posed by a facilitator in this fast-paced, theme-based group creativity workshop.
Creative expression allows for personal insights and opens us to inspiration, hope, and our inner authenticity.
Singing Tree Project
Our collaborative mural-making workshop is the first in the series because it brings people together around shared values and agreements for group interaction.
Discuss and explore themes which include building healthy relationships and community, inspiring hope, honoring nature, celebrating art & creativity, and cultivating health, resilience, and well-being. Then you will collaboratively conceptualize, design, and paint a mural.
Splash
SPLASH is the last in the series because it allows participants to experience freedom and an emotional release from the deep processing of prior workshops.
You use of a variety of tools including large canvasses, oversized brushes, sponges, rags, and unconventional painting techniques, such as splattering and ragging horizontally (on the easel) and vertically (on the ground).
Meditation is integrated into the session to keep you in the moment and enable shifts in
your perspective.
Plein Air Painting
Express your thoughts and feelings through shapes and colors. Paint the landscape that surrounds you. This workshop gives you the unique opportunity to absorb the serenity and beauty of Rush Ranch.
Photography
Receive thoughtful exercises to light up your imagination and look at life through metaphors.
Photography will be used as a tool for reflection and integration throughout the program.
Capture in photographs an insight, feeling or inspiration from the days’ workshops to encourage reflection and integration of your experiences. You are invited to share and discuss your photographs with the group and to exhibit your artwork.
Poetic Medicine
Anyone can put pen to paper; what happens after that is a journey. Poetry is a dance of one’s spirit in words.
Poetry and creative writing are compelling and effective tools in the journey toward wellness. This workshop takes place with participants sitting in a circle. You are given a book of poems to read out loud which inspire discussion, and writing prompts. After each writing exercise, you read your poems to one another. This process allows you to rewrite internal dialogues and narratives, while also bringing about a feeling of being seen, deeply listened to, and connected to community.
Drumming Magic:
Fun & Healing
Through Music
This workshop blends drumming and vocal expression to help you discover and connect with your creative spirit.
Learn new tools for stress relief and a healthy way to connect with your emotions. Walk away with a sense of joy and a deeper connection to yourself and community through the universal language of rhythm.
No experience is needed. All we ask for is a willingness to play and be curious.
Vision Board: Manifest Your Dreams
It is possible for your dreams to become reality. It all begins with setting an intention and believing that it will become a reality, then taking active steps towards making your idea come to life. Vision boards help us visualize our goals and motivate us to take action. They send a powerful “can do” message to our subconscious.
In this fun arts-and-crafts workshop we’ll start with a short meditation and journaling process, taking time to reflect on what’s most important to us, and learning how to uncover our truest desires by asking “why.” This process of self-discovery gives our goals meaning.
You will search for words, phrases and images that represent not only what you want to accomplish and steps you need to take, but how you want to feel.
Enjoy creating something meaningful that inspires the changes you want in your life.
Circle Art: Mandalas
A circle is a closed shape with no corners or edges, formed by a continuous line that loops back to its starting point.
The circle is a powerful and universal symbol. Across cultures, it represents the cycles of life and the natural elements, including the sun, moon, and earth. In abstract art, circles often symbolize unity and wholeness.
We'll start by drawing circles freehand using various tools such as chalk, pencils, and markers. This will help us get into a creative flow as we explore how circles intersect and overlap. Then, we'll use colored pencils and paints to fill in the shapes, creating a vibrant abstract composition.
Next, we'll create a simple mandala. In the ancient Sanskrit language of Hinduism and Buddhism, "mandala" means "circle." Traditionally, mandalas are geometric patterns that symbolize the universe. You’ll have access to pre-designed mandalas, or you can create your own.
Improv for Creative Freedom
Designed for anyone seeking to break free from creative blocks, social anxiety, or self-doubt, this playful and supportive improv workshop offers a joyful take on embracing the moment.
Through authentic relating, improv games, storytelling, and laughter, you’ll learn to trust your instincts, say “yes” to new opportunities, and collaborate with others in a spirit of curiosity and acceptance. You will experience increased confidence, renewed creative energy, and learn tools to carry your true self into everyday life.
Improv exercises are used to help people open-up. It is not performance based and it is designed to be a safe, welcoming space for all. There is an emphasis on non-judgment and acceptance so that our innate creativity and soulful wisdom can blossom.
Eye of the Heart: Mindful Photography
& Nature Walk / Carriage Ride
Join us for a nature walk or carriage ride on the beautiful trails of Rush Ranch with photography and mindfulness prompts to inspire reflection on the beauty and serenity of the land.
"Eye of the Heart" cultivates a deeper, heart-centered connection to nature through mindful observation and reflection practices that can be integrated into your daily life. Our relationship to the natural world creates emotional well-being, gratitude, and a sense of spiritual connection.
Ecotherapy is a nature-based approach to healing that reconnects you with the natural world to support emotional, mental, and physical well-being. Whether through guided walks, gardening, storytelling, or creative reflection in outdoor settings, ecotherapy nurtures a sense of belonging, reduces stress, and fosters personal growth. Rooted in the understanding that nature itself is a powerful ally in the healing process, ecotherapy invites us to slow down, listen deeply, and find renewal through connection with the earth.
Horses & Poetry: Creativity & The Practice of Mindfulness
In this one-of-a-kind experiential workshop, you’ll engage in guided mindfulness exercises, poetry reading and creative writing while spending meaningful time with horses to facilitate your presence and creative expression. Through a blend of Equine-Assisted Learning and writing, you gain insight into your emotions, cultivate body-mind awareness, and deepen your sense of self-compassion.
Poem-making, when approached as a therapeutic, healing and transformative process, rather than with literary analysis and judgment, provides an opportunity for increased self-awareness and growth. This approach encourages listening, connection, and finding deeper meaning in your life.
You’ll leave this workshop feeling grounded, inspired, and empowered by the experience of being deeply listened to by the horses holding space for us. There is a heart-felt connection with the horses who sees you fully in that moment.
Horses & Plein-Air Painting: Equine-Assisted Creative Expression
Learn about mindfulness, authenticity, compassion, and communication from horses; Process the experience and express yourself through painting.
Through the combined experience of partnering with horses and creating an abstract painting, you explore metaphors which mirror your life experiences, personal growth, and self-discovery.
We provide a safe, inclusive, and healing space for participants to have guided interactions with horses to facilitate creative expression.
Community Activities
& Peer Support
Active engagement with community support systems helps you to maintain wellness.
After participating in a workshop, you can stay connected to community through volunteering, group activities and peer-support groups.
Art Exhibits
As an integral part of the program, participants will be invited to curate and exhibit their art, writings, and photography.
Community Events
In the future, we will be hosting community events including art exhibits, live music, experiences with horses, and speakers to educate and engage the public.
Volunteer, Training & Internship Program
We offer professional development, internships and training, which can lead to opportunities for employment and engagement with personal goals.
Participants who are interested in a continued involvement with Crescent Moon will have the opportunity to train with Crescent Moon's staff in community building, program development, and the designing and co-facilitation of workshops.
WHO THIS PROGRAM IS FOR
Our program is for adults, teens, families and youth who are navigating stressful life challenges and are seeking holistic wellness through mindfulness, expressive arts, and guided interactions with horses.
All are welcome! No prior experience with horses or art is necessary.
We only ask that you come with an open-mind and heart.
Activities with horses are guided by certified, experienced facilitators on the ground in a safe and supportive environment. There is no horseback riding in this specialized therapeutic program. You connect with the horses in a personal, deep and heartfelt way.
Sliding Scale Donations
& Scholarships
Many people do not have the resources to access private therapeutic interventions, or holistic wellness and healing services, yet still need support on their journey.
As a nonprofit, we are dedicated to improving access to wellness programs for diverse, underserved and under-resourced communities. Through scholarships, we enable participation for those who need financial support.
Please consider contributing at the highest rate you can afford. Your contribution supports Crescent Moon's program scholarships, materials, faculty and staff.
Participants can receive scholarships based on financial need. Let us know if you have the time and are interested in volunteering in exchange for a partial or full scholarship.
*Please note that lodging is not included in program and workshop costs. We can provide information and assist you with finding lodging nearby that fits your needs.
Healthy snacks and beverages will be provided.
"Taking part in Crescent Moon Center's Program was a touching, life-changing experience that deeply influenced me on my healing journey.
Each of the unique workshops were thoughtfully put together, and the location at Rush Ranch
was magnificent and magical.
The land felt sacred, safe and serene
- a naturally healing place."
2021 Program Participant
OUR FACILITATORS
Karen Kahn
Karen is the founder and President of Crescent Moon Center. She is an attorney, equestrian, artist, writer, and mother who lives in the Bay Area with her husband, dog, and horses. She is a certified member of the Board of Equine Interaction Professionals and certified in Art4Healing. She is a strong proponent of the belief that horses, and creative arts can have a transformative effect on one’s life.
Michael Muir
Michael is the great grandson of John Muir, the explorer. He is a champion in dressage, driving and he continues to breed the Stone Wall horse at Rush Ranch. Michael has suffered from MS since he was 15 years old, is a two-time cancer survivor and is mobility limited. Despite these challenges, he drives forward and is an inspiration to everyone.
Victoria Tugwell
Vickie is Crescent Moon’s Program Coordinator & Facilitator. On her journey to recovery through mental health challenges, she found her place in the world as a Mindfulness Instructor, Body Positive Facilitator and Yoga12SR Instructor.
With the gift of recovery, she has been able to fulfill her dream of becoming an Intuitive Healer, Certified Massage Therapist, and an Animal Osteopath.
Julie Bridge
As Founder of Mearas and a lifelong equestrian, Julie understands the power of the horse/human relationship, and the profound realizations people achieve through working with these majestic beings. She has had the honor of studying with the foremost thought leaders in Equine Facilitated Learning and Equine Guided Education and is an Advanced EponaQuest Instructor, Riding Instructor and Equine Guided Educator.
Laurie Marshall
Laurie is a cutting-edge educator and creative activist who uses collaborative art to envision healing of heartbreak. She is a book author including, “Beating the Odds Now”, “Singing Trees: A Growing Forest”, and founder of the non-profit, Unity Through Creativity Foundation. Her Singing Tree collaborative mural methodology has produced over 90 murals with 20,000 people from 52 countries.
John Fox
John is a Certified Poetry Therapist and Practitioner of Poetic Medicine and is a poet and author of numerous books including, “Finding What You Didn’t Lose: Expressing Your Truth and Creativity through Poem-Making.” He is an adjunct faculty member of several colleges and teaches around the globe.
Hilary Maslon
Hilary is an abstract painter with over 30 years of experience in painting and exhibiting. She has a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) from Queens. As an entrepreneur, ecologist, and lover of animals she brings a new perspective of art and healing. She has taught art to diversified groups and venues in NYC, Mississippi and California.
Jane J. VanderWerf
Jane has a lifetime of experience with horses. Since 2019, she has organized events and volunteered for multiple therapeutic equine organizations. She is certified as both a Horse Assisted Educator with EAHAE, International Association for Horse Assisted Education, and as an Equine Specialist with EAGALA, the Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association.
Darlene DeRose
Darlene holds a BA from Stanford University, an MBA from Yale University and a Master’s Degree in Consciousness & Transformative Studies from JFK University, where she specialized, and earned her Certificate in Ecotherapy. She is an educator, public speaker, and facilitator. She is a Guest Faculty Member in the Fellowship in Reproductive & Integrative Psychiatry Program.
Daniel Labov Dunne
Daniel studied Living Essence, a psychospiritual system of joyous growth, with mentor Scott Hamilton for the past 12 years. Daniel holds an AA in Theatre Arts from College of Marin, is a 2-time recipient of the Robin Williams Scholarship for Acting, and is a certified Relationship & Intimacy Coach by the Intimacy Forum in Berkeley. Daniel has held transformational growth workshops for over a decade in California, Maui, Kauai, Guatemala and Peru.
Leslie Rein
After graduating from U.C. Berkeley, Leslie began her working career as a mental health counselor and advocate. The call to connect creativity with interpersonal development led to training in the Singing Tree Mural methodology with Unity Through Creativity, and in 2020 she became a certified facilitator. Leslie is also on the board of Drawing on Earth (DoE), an organization dedicated to connecting art and creativity to youth and communities with collaborative ‘street art’.
Mika Scott
Mika first started drumming as a child, inspired by the rich Bay Area musical community. He has performed live with Steve Miller, Zero and Hamza Al DIn, as well as Bob Weir, Mickey Hart and Phil Lesh of The Grateful Dead.
Mika’s love and passion for music have led him to facilitate and teach drumming groups for thousands of children and adults in a wide variety of settings. He deeply believes in the power of music to bring forth optimal health, happiness and transformation.
CRESCENT MOON CENTER'S LOCATIONS
Rush Ranch, Suisun, CA
& Access Adventure
Crescent Moon's program is regularly hosted at Rush Ranch thanks to the generous in-kind donation from the Solano Land Trust.
Rush Ranch is a 2,070-acre nature preserve of marsh and rolling grassland located in the Grizzly Island Wildlife Area, Suisun, CA. It is owned and managed by the Solano Land Trust. The working ranch includes a visitor center, turn-of-the-century blacksmith shop, historical ranching equipment, and hiking trails.
Solano Land Trust is a 501c3 nonprofit founded to protect land to ensure a healthy environment, keep ranching and farming families on their properties, and inspire a love of the land. Their work goes beyond conserving land; it’s also about ensuring that people’s relationship to the land remains strong.
The land on which we are gathered has been the home of Patwin people for thousands of years and they remain committed to the stewardship of this land in partnership with Solano Land Trust. Today, there are three federally recognized Patwin tribes: Cachil DeHe Band of Wintun Indians of the Colusa Indian Community, Kletsel Dehe Wintun Nation, and Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation.
We are honored and grateful to be here today on their traditional lands and to receive their support. The Yocha Dehe Community Fund awarded a grant to Crescent Moon Center to offer sliding-scale and free equine-assisted learning and experiential arts workshops in Solano County.
Thanks to our partner Access Adventure, whose wonderful horses we work with in our Equine-Assisted Learning workshops, we are able to provide the inclusive and unique opportunity for a horse drawn carriage ride into the magnificent beauty and serenity of Rush Ranch.
Rush Ranch also hosts Access Adventure, a 501c3 nonprofit founded by Michael Muir, whose mission is to enrich the lives of people with disabilities and other underserved members of our community by providing outdoor recreation, open space access, education and therapy, through a working partnership with horses.
Tabula Rasa Ranch, Sebastopol, CA
& Mearas
Tabula Rasa Ranch is a 10-acre ranch nestled in the hills of West Sonoma County that offers a serene country landscape tucked away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
Crescent Moon Center’s equine-assisted learning workshops in Sebastopol are facilitated by Julie Bridge, Founder of Mearas and Tabula Rasa Ranch.
